“Of course. I even gave her several chores and took away her phone. Joey hasn’t gone after her again, but Kylie ditched her for the cool kids.”
Cora frowns. “Ugh, I hate that working nights means I miss even the littlest updates. How is she taking that?”
“We’ve had a few nightly chats about it. She was talking about a girl in math class who invited her to sit with her at lunch. I’m crossing my fingers things go well there.”
“I’ll cross my fingers too. I hate this, Ave.”
I walk over and hug her. “I know. Do you have to leave again soon?”
“Yeah, in a few days.”
“For how long?”
She hesitates. “A week.”
“What about a nursing job closer to home?” I ask.
“I would love to, but I won’t be able to pay off the bills and loans as quickly. And if I don’t do that, I can’t help you with everything here.” She gives me another hug. “Thank you so much for being here, Avery. I know you could be a lot of places, but it means a lot that you’re sacrificing to be with us.”
There’s a long moment of silence before I say, “We’re family, Cora. We’re working on this together.”
“I’m hoping to have everything paid off in a year,” she says, her eyes filling with tears.
“I love Lila, Cora,” I say carefully. “But she needs you. Especially right now. Even a call now and then will do wonders.”
With a deep sigh, Cora says, “She’s still young. There will be plenty of time in a few years. And then we’ll be besties instead of mother and daughter.”
“But will that be too late? Will she want to hang out with you when you never took the time to figure out what she likes? Or get to know the fun personality she has?” I don’t know why I’m getting so choked up about this, but I have to say something. There are some things that can’t be undone.
“I’ll call more, check in more. We can make it through a year.”
The knot in my chest tightens.
But I already know what I’ll say.
“I can do that.”
She exhales. “Thank you.”
“Ask her about her visit to the principal’s office. That might be a good bonding conversation.
“Will do. How’s the coffee shop?” she asks.
The question lands, but her attention is already drifting to her phone.
“We’re moving forward,” I tell her.
“That’s good,” she replies absently, before lifting her phone in the air. “I need to take this.”
I watch her go, then glance toward Lila’s room. It’s like there’s a train wreck on the horizon, and I can’t stop it. I can understand the worry of debts, but those will still be there even when Lila is grown and out of the house.
She’s stressed and so am I. We’ll figure it out.
Somehow.
19
MAX
